Bring Kids To An Earth Day Open House April 26 At Huber Woods

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Celebrate Earth Day with the Monmouth County Park System.

The Park System is hosting an Earth Day Open House from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 at the Huber Woods Environmental Center, located at 25 Brown's Dock Road, Middletown. The event includes live animal displays, guided nature walks, crafts and more. The schedule is as follows:

10 a.m. - A Tour of Timalot (Meet in the Courtyard.)

10:30 a.m. – Live Animal Program (Meet in the Lodge.)

11 a.m. - Discovery Trail Bird Walk (Meet in the Courtyard.)

11:30 a.m. – Invasive Species Talk (Meet in the Lodge.)

12 p.m. – Mindful Birding Walk (Meet in the Courtyard.)

12:30 p.m. – Live Animal Program (Meet in the Lodge.)

1 p.m. - Birding Around Huber (Meet in the Courtyard.)

1:30 p.m. - Invasive Species Talk (Meet in the Lodge.)

Please note that activities are subject to change or cancellation depending on the weather or trail conditions. Local nature organizations will be on hand to provide valuable information. Admission and parking are free.

In addition to the Open House, the Park System is hosting several smaller activities starting with an Earth Day Planting on Tuesday, April 22 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Holmdel Park, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel. Meet by the Forest Edge parking lot and help the Park System restore the park’s native forest by planting native plants. Participation is on a first come, first served basis as supplies last.

Then on Sunday, April 27, the Park System invites area residents to help clean our coastline of trash and plastics while learning about the local environment during an Earth Day Beach Cleanup from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Bayshore Waterfront Park, 719 Port Monmouth Road, Port Monmouth. An additional cleanup is planned from 1-3 p.m. at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park, 221 Ocean Avenue, Long Branch.

Also, from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, April 26 & 27, the Monmouth County Park System is hosting Wool Days/Sheep Shearing at Historic Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel. A living history farm, Longstreet Farm recreates life as it was in rural Monmouth County during the 1890s. During this event, farm staff will use traditional blade shearing techniques to remove the fleece from their sheep. Gene Sheninger and his collies will be visiting and giving herding demonstrations.

The Park System will also have the Historic Holmes-Hendrickson House open. Located at 62 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, this house was built in 1754 and is furnished to reflect the status of a successful farming family around 1775. The Monmouth County Historical Association will be on hand to provide carding, spinning and weaving demonstrations. The Park System will provide shuttles between the two sites.

All of these Earth Day activities are free and do not require pre-registration.